Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Photochromic Materials: More Than Meets The Eye

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201201521/abstract

Advanced Materials


Photochromic materials are a family of compounds which can undergo reversible photo-switches between two different states or isomers with remarkably different properties. Inspired by their smart photo-switchable characteristics, a variety of light-driven functional materials have been exploited, such as ultrahigh-density optical data storage, molecular switches, logic gates, molecular wires, optic/electronic devices, sensors, bio-imaging and so on. This review commences with a brief description of exciting progress in this field, from systems in solution to modified functional surfaces. Further development of these photo-switchable systems into practical applications as well as existing challenges are also discussed and put in prospect.

Thumbnail image of graphical abstract

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